Gov. Asa Hutchinson will speak April 7 at John Brown University in Siloam Springs to kick off the university's new speaker series on Christian civic leadership.
The series of talks, with plans for one speaker every academic year, will "bring prominent lecturers to address topics related to the intersection of faith and public service," according to an announcement Monday from the nondenominational Christian university.
Hutchinson earned a bachelor's degree from Bob Jones University, a nondenominational Christian university in South Carolina. He will not receive any payment for the talk, said J.R. Davis, a spokesman for the governor.
The Ray and Laurine Barnett Civic Leadership Speaker Series is named for a Siloam Springs couple whose family provided funds to help establish an endowment supporting the lectures.
Ray Barnett, who died last year at age 95, was a minister and educator who taught for nine years at John Brown. The university described Laurine Barnett as having supported various Christian and political causes through volunteering.
"Our family believes that allowing young students to hear firsthand from the civic leaders who are living their faith in public service will inspire future leaders to consider public service," Jonathan Barnett, a former state representative and former Arkansas highway commissioner, said in a statement from the university. Barnett, son of Ray and Laurine Barnett, has a degree from John Brown.
More than 20 organizations and individuals have provided donations in support of the lecture series to build a "six-figure" endowment, according to John Brown University.
Metro on 02/03/2016